UST Rector Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, O.P. has appointed new deans for the Faculty of Arts and Letters, the Graduate School and the College of Nursing.
Graduate School Dean Marilu Madrunio will take the helm at the Faculty of Arts and Letters, the country’s oldest liberal arts college, while Vasco will become dean of the Graduate School, effective Aug. 1, the Varsitarian has learned.
Prof. Rowena Escolar-Chua is the next dean of the College of Nursing, outgoing dean Susan Maravilla announced in a Facebook post on June 28. Under Maravila, since 2015, the college has recorded perfect passing rates in nursing licensure examinations.
The Graduate School opened new master’s and doctorate programs under Madrunio’s stint, such as electronics engineering, occupational therapy and journalism. Doctorate programs in music and health research are set to be offered next academic year.
A total of 26 programs were given Level 4 accreditation by the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities’ Commission on Accreditation (PACUCOA).
Madrunio was president of the Philippine Association of Language Teaching from 2016 to 2017 and was a member of the technical committee for the English language of the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd).
Prior to her deanship, she was chairwoman of UST’s English department for six years. The next Artlets dean holds a doctorate in linguistics from De La Salle University.
Vasco back to Grad School
Outgoing Artlets dean Michael Anthony Vasco is among the youngest UST administrators. Before being appointed Artlets dean at the age of 37 in 2009, he was faculty secretary of the College of Nursing and the Graduate School.
Under his stint, the Artlets offered three new programs, namely: English language studies and history in Academic Year 2011 to 2012, and creative writing in the last academic year.
The philosophy program was named a center of excellence by CHEd and its communication arts, journalism and literature programs were named centers of development.
Arts and Letters currently has four programs with Level 4 PACUCOA accreditation and six programs with Level 3 accreditation.
Vasco holds master’s and doctorate degrees in philosophy, from UST.
Madrunio and Vasco, both full professors, received the Gawad Benavides Award in the 20th Dangal ng UST Awards for 30 and 25 years of service, respectively.
From the ranks
Incoming nursing dean Escolar-Chua served as assistant dean and faculty secretary of the college prior to her appointment.
She holds a doctorate in development studies and a master’s in nursing from the UST Graduate School.
In her Facebook post, outgoing dean Maravilla said she was confident that she would be turning the college over in good hands “for besides being competent, she (Escolar-Chua) is loyal and passionate in her love for the college.”
Deans are selected through the recommendation of the Rector in consultation with the search committee to the Academic Senate, according to UST’s General Statutes.
The Academic Senate is composed of the vice chancellor, Rector, vice rector, the vice rectors for religious affairs, academic affairs, research and innovation, and all deans of faculties, colleges, institutes, and schools.
When approved, he or she would serve as dean for three academic years. Raimee Rose L. Arugay and Charm Ryanne C. Magpali
